In recent years, Da Nang has witnessed a significant increase in the number of domestic and foreign tourist arrivals, especially in summer, because of the wide range of beach sports available for them.  These include jet skiing, coracle racing, paragliding, water skiing, banana boat riding, kayaking, and diving to explore the coral reefs.  Most of the sports activities have been drawing a great deal of attention from both the locals and visitors.

Mr Nguyen Trong Nhan from Ha Noi said that this was the 5^th time that he has visited Da Nang.  He said that he was very impressed with the city’s beautiful beaches and the fascinating beach sports.  He added that he felt very comfortable and relaxed during his stay in the city.  He would return to his busy working life feeling refreshed and energised after his holiday.

Ready for paragliding

Apart from domestic visitors, the local beach sports make a deep impression on foreigners.  Mr Raymond from the UK expressed his delight at the banana boat rides, as well as his desire to return to Da Nang for more.

There are 3 beach sport service providers in the city, and they are the Huy Khanh Trading and Service Company, the Temple Danang Travel Company, and the Dana Beach Entertainment and Tourism area.  Each day they welcome about 100 people who want to participate in beach sports activities.

The General Manager of the Temple Danang company, Mr Le Minh Duc, said that beach sports in Da Nang have not yet become as popular as in Phan Thiet, Nha Trang and Vung Tau.  These activites, however, are expected to become a new tourism product for Da Nang and will draw more attention from domestic and foreign visitors.

Da Nang is now home to 17 designated tourist beaches which stretch along Hoang Sa, Truong Sa and Nguyen Tat Thanh streets.  Water sports areas are separated from bathing areas on local beaches, and this makes them ideal places for sport lovers.

According to the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beaches, the local beaches have welcomed up to 10,000 bathers daily during the recent hot weather, 35% of whom are domestic and foreign visitors.  This figure doubled or tripled during the public holidays and at weekends.

Most notably, the local beaches have attracted over 50,000 people every day during this year’s Da Nang - Summer Rendezvous 2013 programme.

In an attempt to create more even favourable conditions for swimmers and sports lovers, 2 pilot areas for people who want to take part in water sports activities at local beaches were set up in May.  The areas were established on the beaches opposite the intersections of Vo Van Kiet and Hoang Sa streets, and of Nguyen Van Thoai and Truong Sa streets.